Fence straining means

ABSTRACT

A fence straining element includes a post, attachment elements to attach a fence to the post, connection elements whereby in use the post is connected to a fence post. The connection is in a manner that allows the post to be rotated in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post. Rotation elements are provided whereby the post may be rotated to tighten, or loosen the fence attached thereto. Lock elements are also provided whereby the post may be locked, in use, in at least the position with the fence under some tension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a fence straining means and has been devised particularly though not necessarily in relation to farm fences.

[0002] Maintaining tension on fence wires has long been a problem particularly on farms where the distance between fence posts is desirably kept to a maximum commensurate with the fence adequately fulfilling its role as a fence. A variety of straining devices are available particularly to strain fence wires but where the fence is of an interconnected nature such as those fences formed by an interconnected array of horizontal and vertcal wires a single fence wire strainer is insufficient. Where multiple strainers are used for example on each horizontal wire there is substantial labour in using these and difficulties are found in applying the correct tension to each wire. This is disadvantageous.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide fence straining means and/or a method of tightening a fence and/or a fence which will obviate or minimise the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in fence straining means comprising a post, attachment means to attach a fence to the post, connection means whereby in use the post is connected to a fence post in a manner to allow the post to be rotated in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post, rotation means whereby the post may be rotated to tighten, or loosen the fence attached thereto, and lock means whereby the post may be locked, in use, in at least the position with the fence under some tension.

[0005] Preferably the post is a hollow post.

[0006] Preferably the attachment means comprises a row of holes in the wall of the post.

[0007] Preferably the connection means comprises two or more lengths of material forming or able to form a closed loop.

[0008] Preferably the material forming or able to form the closed loop is chain material.

[0009] Preferably the rotation means comprises a plate positioned on the post or post able in use to be gripped to allow rotation of the post.

[0010] Preferably the lock means comprises a lock member one end being engageable in substantially non-rotatable manner into an aperture in the post the other end able to abut a fence post in use to substantially prevent rotation of the post in the direction relieving tension in the fence until the lock member is removed.

[0011] Preferably the lock member is substantially L shaped and is engageable into an aperture in one end of the post, the member and aperture being of corresponding non circular cross section.

[0012] In a further aspect the invention consists in a fence including a fence straining means according to any one of the preceding paragraphs.

[0013] In a still further aspect the invention consists in a method of tightening a fence comprising the following steps; providing a fence strainging means according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, mounting the post on a fence post by means of the connection means, engaging the fence with the post by means of the attachment means, rotating the post in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post and locking the post with the fence in a substantially tensioned state.

[0014] In a still further aspect the invention consists in a fence tightened by a method according to the preceding paragraph.

[0015] To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

[0017]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a post and fence according to one preferred form of the present invention,

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a fence post and a connection means for use with the post of FIG. 1,

[0019]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the constractions of FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0020]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the post shown in FIG. 1,

[0021]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the area shown within the circle in FIG. 3,

[0022]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an alternative post for use in the invention,

[0023]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a further alternative post for use in the invention, and

[0024]FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a lock member for use in the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Referring to the drawings a fence 1 is provided which comprises longitudinal wire elements such as elements 2 and vertical wire elements such as elements 3. Such fences are known. In use one end of the fence has the horizontal wires tied off to a fence post 4. In alternative embodiments of the invention the grid of the fence may be replaced by fence wires.

[0026] The free end of the fence elements generally indicated at 5 are used to tension the fence. This is achieved by using the fence straining device according to the invention. The fence straining device comprises a post preferably a hollow post 10 which has an attachment means whereby the fence can be attached to the post 10.

[0027] In the preferred form the attachment means comprises a series of apertures or holes 11 provided for example by drilling through the wall of the post 10. Thus the free ends (such as 12) of the fence elements 2 may be positioned, in use, into the appropriately positioned hole 11. Connection means are provided to enable the post 10 to be connected to a further fence post 13.

[0028] In the preferred form the connection means take the form of a strip of material which is in the form of a loop or able to be formed into a loop and in the embodiments shown the connection means comprises two strips of chain 16 and 17 which in use are positioned towards the upper end 18 of the post 10 and the lower end 19 of the post 10. A further chain (not shown) can be provided substantially midway between the chains 16 and 17 if desired. As can be seen from FIG. 3 this enables the post 10 to be positioned adjacent the fence post 13. The construction is such that the post 10, whilst held close to the post 13, is able to rotate in a plane of rotation substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post 10.

[0029] Rotation means are provided to enable the post to be rotated. In the preferred form the rotation means takes the form of a plate mounted on the post 10 which can be gripped to allow rotation, In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 the plate 20 is positioned at the lower end 19 of the post 10 and the plate is shaped to a non circular shape for example being hexagonal. This allows the plate 10 to be gripped, for example, with a spanner or other device to enable it to be rotated. The construction also has a lock device to hold the post 10 in a desired position for example with the fence 1 under some tension.

[0030] In the preferred form of the invention the lock device is provided by a member which is able to be inserted into an aperture in the post 10 and in particular comprises a substantially L shaped member 30 one end of which is able to be positioned in an aperture indicated at 31 in FIG. 5 which may be formed in the plate 20. The apertures 31 and end 32 of arm 30 have corresponding non-circular cross sections for example, being square, hexagonal (as shown in FIG. 8) or otherwise as desired.

[0031] The other arm 35 of the member 30 is of sufficient length that it may abut the fence post 13 in use.

[0032] In the construction of FIG. 6, the plate 20 is moved to the top of the post 10, and apertures 11 are provided as before. In a particular embodiment intended for use with dear fencing, the post 10 is about two meters in height and 32 mm in diameter. The plate 20 is about 40 mm in diameter, being formed of 5 mm thick steel plate. The apertures 11 are about 3 mm in diameter There are at least sufficient apertures to receive the ends of the fences and the spacing is dictated by the needs of the fence. About twenty four apertures may be provided. The aperture in the plate 20 may be about 12 mm.

[0033]FIG. 7 shows a post for a sheep fence, which is about 970 mm high of 25 mm diameter pipe. About thirty 3 mm diameter apertures 11 may be provided. Again the plate 20 is at the top of post 10.

[0034]FIG. 8 shows a locking key 30 having arms 32 and 35 formed of 12 mm hexagonal rod to engage the 12 mm apertures in plate 20.

[0035] The use of the invention is as follows.

[0036] The free ends 12 of the fence 1 are inserted into the apertures 11 with the post 10 mounted on the fence post 13 by means of the connection means such as chains 16 and 17.

[0037] The plate 20 is engaged by a spanner or other similar device and rotated for example in a clockwise direction. This rotation will cause the free ends 12 of the fence 1 which pass into the apertures 11 to be bent securing the engagement between the fence 1 and the post 10. When it is necessary to shift the spanner the lock member 30 is positioned with its arm 32 in the aperture 31 so that the other end 35 of the lock member is positioned close to the fence post 13. Any tension in the fence causing the post 10 to attempt to move in the loosening (in this case anti clockwise) direction would be resisted by the end 35 of the member 30 abutting or striking the post 13. The spanner can then be moved to a position wherein further rotation in the clockwise direction can be effected. This procedure is repeated until a suitable tension in the fence wire has been achieved whereupon the lock member 30 is simply left in position to substantially prevent the tension in the fence from being relieved. If over time some of the tension is lost the fence can be simply tightened by repeating the above procedure. Should it be desired to remove the fence the lock member can be withdrawn and the post 10 allowed to rotate to relieve the tension in the fence so that ultimately the free ends 12 can be removed from the apertures 11.

[0038] Thus it can be seen that at least in the preferred form of the invention a fence straining device and/or a fence and/or a method of tightening a fence and/or a tightened fence are provided which will allow in particular a fence comprised of horizontal and vertical wires to be tensioned in a simple yet effective manner. It will be apparent that the construction could also be used for fences comprising only horizontal strands but it is believed that its main effectiveness will be on the rectangular patterned fences described. 

What we claim is:
 1. Fence straining means comprising a post, attachment means to attach a fence to the post, connection means whereby in use the post is connected to a fence post in a manner to allow the post to be rotated in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post, rotation means whereby the post may be rotated to tighten, or loosen the fence attached thereto, and lock means whereby the post may be locked, in use, in at least the position with the fence under some tension.
 2. Fence straining means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the post is a hollow post.
 3. Fence straining means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a row of holes in the wall of the post.
 4. Fence straining means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection means comprises two or more lengths of material forming or able to form a closed loop.
 5. Fence straining means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the material for or able to form the closed loop is chain material.
 6. Fence straining means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation means comprises a plate positioned on the post, able in use, to be gripped to allow rotation of the post.
 7. Fence straining means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock means comprises a lock member one end being engageable in substantially non-rotatable manner into an aperture in the post, the other end able to abut a fence post in use to substantially prevent rotation of the post in the direction relieving tension in the fence until the lock member is removed.
 8. Fence straining means claimed in claim 7 wherein the lock member is substantially L shaped and is engageable into an aperture in one end of the post, the member and aperture being of corresponding non circular cross section.
 9. A fence including a fence straining means according to any one of the preceding claims.
 10. A method of tightening a fence comprising the following steps; providing a fence straining means according to any one of claims 1 to 8, mounting the post on a fence post by means of the connection means, engaging the fence with the post by means of the attachment means, rotating the post in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post arid locking the post with the fence in a substantially tensioned state. 